Vertical guiding devices for containers in ships

ABSTRACT

Detachable means for guiding standard containers as they are vertically lowered into or hoisted out from the cargo space of a ship, comprising vertical guide means in the form of ropes or chains adapted to be wound up from the upper deck, bearing or anchoring devices disposed at the corners of the cargo space and adapted to be removed by hoisting when these detachable means are not required.

' PATENTEDFEB 2 m:

SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR RENE CHARLES CA/LLET v avzrwefizi ATT N YS FA TENTEU Fab 2 Ian I 3; 559L787 sum 2 or 3 IIIK INVENTOR RENE CHARLES CA/LL ET PAIENTED FEB 21971 SHEEI 3 OF 3 INVENTOR Fig 9 RENE CHARLES emu/5r 73 {f HTTORNEYS VERTICAL GUIDING DEVICES FOR CONTAINERS IN SIIIPS It was current practice up to now, in the loading of ships with superposed containers, to provide vertical slideways adapted to guide the containers at the four comers thereof and thus permit of positioning same very accurately, from the loading deck of the ship, at the desired locations in which they are subsequently locked by means provided to this end at each comer of the individual containers.

These vertical slideways extending from the open or upper deck of the ship to the bottom of the loading or cargo space prevent the use of the ship for any other type of operation. It is therefore most desirable to replace these slideways with detachable guide means adapted to be easily removed and refitted when required by the variations in the nature of the ship cargo, and it is the essential object of the present invention to provide a satisfactory solution to this problem.

The basic principle of this invention consists in substituting for the conventional slideways a system of lines, such as ropes or chains, adapted to have their upper ends wound and attached in the vicinity of the loading upper-deck hatch-coaming to winding and tensioning drums, their lower ends being attached to anchoring members provided at the base of the space to be loaded, the vertically-extending portions of these ropes or chains being maintained under mechanical tension. At the ends of said vertical portion each rope or chain may, if necessary, pass over a guide block before being attached to its winding drum or base anchoring member.

Preferably, two ropes or chains disposed along the containe'rs sides adjacent the corner concerned may be associated with each guided comer of the container. Preferably, this guiding system will be provided at the four comers of the container, but it would not constitute a departure from the basic principle of this invention to provide such system only at two diametrically opposite comers, notably for meeting specific requirements as will be explained presently.

The guide ropes or chains disposed at each comer of the loading shaft are anchored or caused to bear against detachable means provided on each one of the various decks through which a stacking of superposed containers is to be formed, and also at the bottom of this stacking, the upper detachable means aforesaid comprising winding and tensioning apparatus. All the means necessary therefor are formed preferably with upper faces inclined to facilitate the passage of the containers.

In a practical fonn of embodiment a same loading hatchway is adapted, according to its dimensions, to receive a plurality of stacking juxtaposed side by side in both longitudinal and transverse directions of the ship, and it will be readily apparent to those conversant with the art that the means corresponding to adjacent comers of adjacent containers can be incorporated in a same and common composite apparatus, so as to guide for example by means of four ropes the adjacent T- forming corners of two adjacent stackings of superposed containers, or by means of eight ropes the adjacent cross-forming comers of four adjacent stackings having each a corner in the vicinity of a common vertical line. In the case of cross-forming comers of four adjacent stackings of superposed containers, the upper apparatus provided therefor will not be disposed in the vicinity of the hatch-coaming ledge; they will be supported by a transverse detachable horizontal beam similar to the hatch-coaming cross bars or thwart-carlings used on ships. Similarly, transverse beams of comparable type may be used on the intermediate decks through which the container stacking is to extend. It is also advantageous to use such beams at the bottom of the loading space provided for receiving the containers, in order to distribute the load over a greater surface area of the ships bottom instead of at four points disposed at the corners of the container stacking.

The bearing and anchoring devices for the ropes or chains associated with a same container comer may be lowered to their bearing points from the upper deck and removed by simply winding or lifting the rope or chains. Regarding the ledges or beams provided for supporting some of these means,

roller-mounted ledges or beams adapted to be stowed at one end of the hatchway in their inoperative condition may be used.

The rope winding drums provided on the upper deck for the adjacent ropes of a same vertical line, i.e. for the two ropes of one comer of a container stacking, for the four ropes of a T- forming double corner or for the eight ropes of a cross-forming four-fold comer, are mounted preferably on a common shaft and driven simultaneously by means of pawl-and-ratchet mechanisms permitting a separate adjustment of the four drums for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the relevant rope by imparting an additional rotational movement thereto by means of a separate driving mechanism associated with the common driving gear.

In the case of using chains, the upper, intermediate and lower anchoring devices may be incorporated in parallel beams which are supported by fulcrums disposed at each of the superposed decks. When it is not necessary to use the space forseen for the storing of the containers, these beams may be taken away and descended at the bottom of the ship, in the vicinity of the space foreseen for the containers where these beams may be disposed in superposed positions, the chains which connect the superposed beams falling down naturally and successively into the lower beams. The opening of the superposed decks may thus be closed by means of panels, allowing the use of this space for the storing of other loads.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention, typical exemplary forms of embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary and very simplified illustration of the principle of the devices of this invention in the case of a hatchway adapted to receive four stackings of superposed containers, these stackings being juxtaposed by pairs both longitudinally and transversly;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plane view from above showing a composite winding apparatus designed for equipping the upper deck in the case of a T-forming double comer;

FIG. 3 is an elevational end view showing on a larger scale the winding drums of an upper deck apparatus and one portion of the driving mechanism thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side-elevational view corresponding to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a comer guiding device for the bottom of the ships loading space;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a comer guiding device for an intennediate deck;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the use of a hoist frame associated with a standard container, the former being designed for guiding the container at two diametrically opposite corners by means of a single rope at each comer;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary corresponding perspective view showing a deck arrangement according to this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic plane view showing the means for vertically guiding a container in the case illustrated in FIG. 8.

Referring first to FIG. 1 the reference numeral 1 designates the hatch-coaming of the upper deck shown only diagrammatically, 2 being the corresponding of an intermediate deck and 3 the bottom of the space to be loaded. It is assumed in this diagrammatic example that the hatchway is adapted to receive four stackings of superposed or vertically-aligned containers disposed by pairs juxtaposed both longitudinally and transversely. Under these conditions the upper deck means according to this invention comprise four single comer guiding devices designated by the reference numeral 4, four T- forming double comer guiding devices 5 and a central corner cross-forming four-fold device 6.

The devices disposed on one edge of the hatchway (as exemplified in the left-hand portion of the FIG.) are adapted to be fitted in recesses formed in supports welded to the hatchway coaming (as shown in FIG. 2 at 37). The central device 6 is carried by a transverse beam or thwart-carling 7 supported at its ends by members rigid with, and disposed on the inner side of, the coarning girder, this beam 7 being also adapted to carry the T-forming guiding devices 5 disposed at its ends. Finally. if one edge of a group of stackings is spaced from the adjacent edge of the coarning as shown in the righthand portion of the FIG., the devices disposed along this edge may also be supported by a transverse beam 8 which, like the preceding beam 7. is adapted to be either removed or stowed by rolling to one end of the coarning in order to free completely the ingres to the hatchway when the container guiding devices are no more necessary.

For each intermediate deck (of which only one is shown in FIG. I for the sake of simplification in the drawing) the arrangement is very similar and in this case single devices, such as T-shaped or cross-shaped devices as shown at 9, l and II respectively, which correspond respectively to the devices 4, and 6 of the upper deck, are provided. Some of these devices can be supported by transverse beams 12 and 13 similar to the transverse beams 7 and 8 of the upper deck.

At the bottom of the load space single, T-shaped and crossspaced anchoring devices designated by the reference numerals l4, l5 and I6 are also provided.

In FIG. I the dot-and-dash lines designate the eight vertical ropes or chains corresponding respectively to the stacking or column of containers disposed in the front and left-hand portion of the four-fold group contemplated in this perspective view.

In FIG. I has equally been shown in dot-and-dash lines at the bottom of the ship (in a position removed from the normal position) a trough shaped beam 56 which may replace, at each deck, a line of anchoring devices parallelly to beams 7-8-12- 13, so that in the example of FIG. I there will be three such beams 56 at each deck. When the space under the hatchway is not used for storing containers, the beams 56 of a same verti cal plane are carried down one above the other and are stored at the bottom of the ship in a parallel position by example on the right-hand side of the part of the FIG. showing the bottom of the ship, and the beams 56 of the three parallel vertical planes are placed contiguously at this place.

FIG. 2 illustrates in plane view from above and on a larger scale a T-shaped apparatus 5 for the upper deck. Four drums l8, 19, and 21 adapted to wind four ropes 22, 23, 24 and 25 are mounted on a common horizontal shaft 17 extending along the central member of the T. These ropes are brought along the desired vertical paths by means of guide blocks or sheaves and the reference numerals 26 and 27 designate the guide blocks provided for ropes 21 and 22 of which the vertical portions are relatively spaced from the corresponding winding drums l8 and 19.

In the example illustrated each drum carries a toothed wheel 28 rigid therewith and in constant meshing engagement with a gear wheel 29 mounted for loose rotation on a driving shaft 30 common to all four drums I8 to 21 inclusive. This toothed wheel 29 is adapted to be driven from the shaft 30 through the intermediary of a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this mechanism comprises a spring-loaded pawl 31 of which the support is rotatably solid with shaft 30, and a ratchet wheel 32 rotatably rigid with wheel 29. Moreover, each wheel 29 has associated therewith, on the shaft 30, a bevel gear 33 also adapted to drive the ratchet wheel 32 of toothed wheel 29 through the medium of another spring-loaded pawl 34. The bevel gear 33 meshes with a bevel pinion 35 having its shaft 36 adapted to be actuated by means of a spanner or like tool for rotating each drum separately to an additional angular extent in the winding direction when it is desired to adjust the tension of the corresponding rope.

It will be noted that the casing of the apparatus 5 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawing has inclined sidewalls 38 and 39 with a view to facilitate the passage of the containers therealong.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom device consisting of a base plate 40 and two perpendicular sidewalls 41 formed with inclined inner faces in which verticalchannels 42 are formed for receiving the ends of the ropes of which the end anchor rings are retained by horizontal rods 43 embedded in said sidewalls and adequately locked by conventional means (not shown). This bottom device is adapted to be secured to the floor 3 of the ship's bottom.

FIG. 6 illustrates an intermediate-deck device consisting of a squarelike member of which the two arms 44 formed with inclined faces comprise vertical channels 45 permitting the passage of the corresponding guide ropes extending vertically behind bridgelike members 46 forming an integral part of the device and assisting in retaining the ropes in position. This device may be fitted in a recess formed in an adequate support carried by the intermediate deck. 7

FIG. 7 illustrates diagrammatically a container 47 suspended from a hoist frame 48 specially dimensioned and constructed for its guidance at two diametrically opposite corners by means of a single rope at each comer. To this end, the hoist frame 48 carries along each of said opposite comers a vertical guide member 49 of substantially fork-shaped configuration in plane view, which provides at the comer of said hoist frame a vertical channel 50 adapted to receive the guide rope 51 (FIG. 8). The lower ends of these fork-shaped guide members may be outflared to facilitate the engagement of the hoist frame on the guide ropes.

FIG. 8 illustrates diagrammatically the double guiding devices 52 of the upper deck, designed for guiding two adjacent stackings of containers. If we compare this arrangement with that of FIG. I, it will be seen that the former can be substituted for the T-shaped devices 10 to 15, so that the use of a cross-shaped central device can be dispensed with at the cross point of four adjacent stackings of containers. Each device 52 comprises for example, for each stacking or column of containers, a vertical slideway 53 receiving one side of guide member 49 and which is limited on one side by an inclined wall 54 through which the guide rope 50 suitably retained by a block 55 or equivalent device can be inserted.

It will be readily understood by anybody skilled in the art that the fonns of embodiment described and illustrated herein should not be construed as limiting the invention since they are given only for the purpose of affording a proper understanding of the invention. It would therefore not constitute a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention to bring various modifications or additions thereto.

I claim:

I. In a ship having an upper deck, at least one intermediate deck and a bottom, and hatchways formed in said upper deck to permit the introduction of containers to be stacked vertically in the cargo space available from said hatchways to said bottom through said intennediate deck, detachable means for vertically guiding said containers when they are lowered into or hoisted from said cargo space, said means including windup members detachably connected to said decks and tensioned vertically throughout the the height of said cargo space and adapted therefore to be removed therefrom when said flexible means are not adapted to the nature of the cargo to be loaded or unloaded.

2. Detachable means as set forth in claim I, wherein said windup members consist of strands.

3. Detachable means as set forth in claim 1, including means detachably connected to said upper deck for winding and tensioning said windup members, anchoring and bearing devices for said windup'members, detachably connected to said intermediate decks and said bottom and said devices being adapted to be removed by stacking same upon each other when raising said windup members.

4. Detachable means as set forth in claim 3, which includes a pair of windup members extending along the sides adjacent to and in the vicinity of each comer of a stacking of superposed containers.

5. Detachable means as set forth in claim 3, which includes composite anchoring and bearing devices for said windup members on said upper deck. intermediate decks and bottom of said cargo space, positioned to correspond to adjacent corners of juxtaposed stackings of superposed containers.

6. Detachable means as set forth in claim 5, including a pluralityiof windingdrums on said upper deck corresponding in number to said windup members for each bearing device guide means, a common shaft for supporting said drums, another common shaft for rotatably driving said drums. and a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism associated with each drum for means mounted in said recesses, transverse beams being provided for carrying said supports, the ends of said beams bearing on said frames and rollers on said beams to facilitate the stowing of said beams to one end of the relevant passage.

8. Detachable means as set forth in claim 3, which includes a container hoist frame, only one windup guide member for each one of the opposite corners of a stacking of containers, and members having a forklike horizontal configuration, secured to the corresponding corners of said container hoist frame for guiding said containers along said windup members. 

1. In a ship having an upper deck, at least one intermediate deck and a bottom, and hatchways formed in said upper deck to permit the introduction of containers to be stacked vertically in the cargo space available from said hatchways to said bottom through said intermediate deck, detachable means for vertically guiding said containers when they are lowered into or hoisted from said cargo space, said means including windup members detachably connected to said decks and tensioned vertically throughout the the height of said cargo space and adapted therefore to be removed therefrom when said flexible means are not adapted to the nature of the cargo to be loaded or unloaded.
 2. Detachable means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said windup members consist of strands.
 3. Detachable means as set forth in claim 1, including means detachably connected to said upper deck for winding and tensioning said windup members, anchoring and bearing devices for said windup members, detachably connected to said intermediate decks and said bottom and said devices being adapted to be removed by stacking same upon each other when raising said windup members.
 4. Detachable means as set forth in claim 3, which includes a pair of windup members extending along the sides adjacent to and in the vicinity of each corner of a stacking of superposed containers.
 5. Detachable means as set forth in claim 3, which includes composite anchoring and bearing devices for said windup members on said upper deck, intermediate decks and bottom of said cargo space, positioned to correspond to adjacent corners of juxtaposed stackings of superposed containers.
 6. Detachable means as set forth in claim 5, including a plurality of winding-drums on said upper deck corresponding in number to said windup members for each bearing device guide means, a common shaft for supporting said drums, another common shaft for rotatably driving said drums, and a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism associated with each drum for imparting an additional winding movement thereto and thus permit the separate adjustment of the tension of the corresponding windup member.
 7. Detachable means as set forth in claim 3, wherein supports are secured to the inner faces of the hatchway passage frames, and have recesses formed therein with said detachable means mounted in said recesses, transverse beams being provided for carrying said supports, the ends of said beams bearing on said frames and rollers on said beams to facilitate the stowing of said beams to one end of the relevant passage.
 8. Detachable means as set forth in claim 3, which includes a container hoist frame, only one windup guide member for each one of the opposite corners of a stacking of containers, and members having a forklike horizontal configuration, secured to the corresponding corners of said container hoist frame for guiding said containers along said windup members. 